New Salford duo Kear up for World Cup clash
TWO of Salford’s trio of recent signings from London Broncos will be in action in the World Cup Nines, which begin today.
Elliot Kear will captain the Wales side that will be in action at the new Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta, with coverage beginning on Sky Sports at 8.20am.
The versatile back was one of three Broncos this week confirmed to be joining the Red Devils ahead of the 2020 season.
Winger Rhys Williams has also made the move to the AJ Bell Stadium and will be part of the Welsh squad at the Nines, coached by John Kear.
The pair have made the switch from the recently-relegated Broncos along with Luke Yates, the second-row forward who impressed in Super League this season, having arrived from NRL side Newcastle Knights.
Salford have so far confirmed 10 new signings ahead of the new campaign, with Chris Atkin, Kevin Brown, James Greenwood, Pauli Pauli, Dan Sarginson, Connor Jones and Jack Ormondroyd already announced by the club.
However, further recruitment is expected with as many as 12 players leaving the club in the off season – including Jackson Hastings, Josh Jones and George Griffin – and the Red Devils compelled to run a reserve grade team in 2020. Coach Ian Watson explained that his side’s excellent form allowed himself and director of rugby Ian Blease to begin recruitment midway through the year, without the threat of relegation, and he feels the additions will make his playing group as a whole stronger.
“We’ve tried to sign winners again, which is what we’ve been about,” said Watson. “Luke Yates has been phenomenal in Super League this year and hopefully he can fill the hole that George [Griffin] is going to
Ian Watson leave. We feel we’ve got a better quality of player coming in, but again we’ve had to look at some guys in Championship and League 1, who are at the cheaper end of the scale.”
Meanwhile, former Swinton Lions full-back Ritchie Hawkyard has left Oldham following the club’s promotion to the Betfred Championship.
The full-back played an integral role in Roughyeds’ successful season, but does not believe his body could cope with the increased physical demands of second-tier rugby and has instead signed for Keighley Cougars.
“I would like to thank everyone at Oldham for a fantastic season,” said
Hawkyard. “I enjoyed every minute of it and I would like to thank the players, coaching staff, Chris Hamilton for bringing me to the club and, most of all, the fans.
“They were fantastic from day one and I’m so glad we could finish on a high and take Oldham back to where they rightfully belong.
“I’m getting no younger and in all honesty I don’t believe my body could take all the hits and I wouldn’t be able to give 110 per cent week in and week out in the Championship, so I believe this was best for both parties.
“I came and succeeded in what I set out to achieve at Oldham.”